Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The government crackdown on corruption in the police force should have been pursued before embarking on the war against drugs, says Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
“Government should have cleaned its own ranks first, the police in particular, before waging this supposed war on drugs,” Escudero said in an interview Monday on CNN Philippines’ The Source.
If anyone is to blame for corruption and abuse by some police officers, it’s government, he said, adding that it “looked the other way too many times.”
“They created the monsters themselves,” Escudero said, referring to the corrupt police as “monsters.” The administration, he added, gave the police “too much power… encouraged them too much.”
Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo was allegedly killed last October in the grounds of the police headquarters by rogue police. These officers used the government’s war against illegal drugs as a pretext to take Jee from his home in Pampanga.
The ensuing controversy prompted President Rodrigo Duterte on January 29 to halt the police force’s participation in the anti-drugs campaign.
“The worst fear of many people already happened. It went into the head of policemen. Not all, but some,” said Escudero.
“Hence, even the administration itself who spearheaded this war on drugs, they had to stop it altogether and… go back to basics and try to correct the abuses committed.”
More than 2,000 drug personalities have been killed under operations in the war against drugs since the government launched this in July 2016. Over 3,600 more were classified “deaths under investigation,” of which 800 have been investigated based on police statistics dated January 9.
Escudero said that the clean-up is a “belated” move and the government “encouraged” and “protected” policemen too much.
Prior to the killing of Jee, Duterte repeatedly promised to protect policemen who killed in the name of the war on drugs.
Among the controversial personalities was Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 8 Regional Chief Marvin Marcos, who was tagged in the killing last November of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. while in jail in Leyte. Espinosa’s son Kerwin also accused him of receiving drug money. Both Espinosas were part of President Duterte’s list of government officials involved in the illegal drug trade.
However, Marcos was later reinstated to his post, a decision that Duterte later owned up to.
“Colonel Marcos was completely and clearly guilty for what he did, and yet government was standing… beside him,” Escudero said.
“If he can get away with it, CCTV and all, raiding a provincial jail and all, and nonchalantly and arrogantly parading his supposed power and right to do what he did, but it will embolden other policemen as well,” the senator added.
Escudero said that the government should “set the example,” and added he hopes it will “be singing a different song” regarding Marcos soon.
Senator to push for inquiry on Amnesty International report
A report from Amnesty International released last week also alleged that on top of these abuses, policemen were behind the extrajudicial killings that racked the country during the the war on drugs.
AI claimed that police were being paid between ₱8,000 to ₱15,000 for each killing and that they would sometimes hire other hands to do the job for them.
Related: War vs. Poor: Police paid per drug killing – Amnesty International
Government officials, particularly House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, brushed off the report.
Escudero also chided the two for their remarks, most notably Aguirre, who had said that drug lords and pushers are not human beings.
Related: Escudero hits Aguirre for saying drug suspects are not human
Escudero is set to file a resolution seeking a Senate probe on the AI report on either Monday or Tuesday. The measure was supported by Senator Ralph Recto and Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Committee on Justice Chairman Senator Richard Gordon and Committee on Public Order on Dangerous Drugs Chairman Panfilo Lacson expressed reservations on holding an inquiry, but Escudero is optimistic that it will be brought up in Senate.
The Senate Committee on Justice previously probed extrajudicial killings, and in its final report in November stated that they were not linked to the state.
Escudero maintains that the findings from a probe on the AI report could add to the initial Senate report.
“In fact if Sen. Gordon doesn’t want to take up this new resolution, it can be taken up as part of the existing resolution and investigation which has not been wrapped up anyway,” said Escudero.
“(And) if it is indeed hearsay as claimed by Sen. Gordon, then this would be the best opportunity to indeed prove it is hearsay,” he added.
AI “besmirched PH reputation”
Escudero clarified that he is not favoring AI and he sometimes finds the organization “too radical.”
“The filing of such a resolution is really not meant to give AI a platform. It’s to allow AI to prove their allegations, because by that report, they besmirched the reputation of our country,” Escudero said.
He added that it saddened him that AI maintained the confidentiality of their sources, which makes the evidence “difficult to stand on.”
“Now if they made public their report, I see no reason why they cannot prove, even in an executive session, the basis of their findings,” said Escudero. “Shouldn’t they help us? Or don’t they trust the Senate itself to actually pave the way and find out and truthfully find solutions to the current problem?”
He added that he did not mind interviewing silhouettes online to protect the identities of AI’s sources “for as long as we get (the information) firsthand.” AI could also present their affidavits, Escudero said.
He also noted that the time might also be “ripe” for the Commission on Human Rights to air their side.
CHR was barred from testifying at the Senate Committee hearings after CHR Commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz called Gordon a “coward.”
Bato “should buckle down to work”
After the murder of Jee, seven policemen were also reprimanded publicly by Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for their alleged involvement in the extortion of Korean tourists. Cursing at the cops, Dela Rosa ordered them to do pushups.
Escudero also previously criticized Dela Rosa for playing up to the cameras with this approach.
“I have no doubts about the integrity of General Bato, but he should buckle down to the work too and not simply play to the crowd or camera,” said Escudero.
“Statements like cursing them, asking them to do push-ups, wanting to melt… it sounds good, but it doesn’t help any in so far as putting the policemen in the right direction and… enforcing the law, is concerned,” he added.
Lacson, a former police chief, also weighed in on the internal clean-up.
“Magandang mensahe, symbolic ang push-up at ang mura and everything, but it should go beyond that. Ang hinihintay ng tao, ano bang positibong aksyon aside from meting out the appropriate or commensurate punishment?” Lacson said in a statement. “After nito, anong gagawin para ang future incidents hindi na maganap?”
[Translation: It’s a good message. The push-ups and cursing are symbolic and everything, but it should go beyond that. What people are waiting for is, what is the positive action aside from meting out the appropriate or commensurate punishment? After this, what will be done to prevent future incidents like this?]
The seven policemen have since been relieved of their posts.
According to a press release from Lacson, Dela Rosa assured him that the set-up for the internal clean-up “is complete and will go full blast soon.”
Dela Rosa on Monday said that almost 400 policemen with administrative cases will be sent straight to Malacanang to clean the Pasig River, under the President’s orders.
Related: No retraining yet for errant cops – Dela Rosa
The policemen were initially supposed to undergo retraining, and Dela Rosa previously said that some would be transferred to Mindanao.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
